Dispenser for pharmaceutical tablets



n 3. 1967 R. c. JORDT DISPENSER FOR PHARMACEUTICAL TABLETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1966 BY 60am, C. yu m ATTORNEY June 13, 1967 c. JORDT 3,324,996

DISPENSER FOR PHARMACEUTICAL TABLETS Filed Jan. 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 44 40 @567: Qflafm B wan. c. fi

United States Patent 3,324,996 DISPENSER FOR PHARMACEUTICAL TABLETS Robert C. .lordt, Deerfield, lll., assignor to G. D. Searle & (10., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 521,667 6 Claims. (Cl. 2tl642) My present invention relates to a dispenser, for pharmaceutical tablets and similar articles, providing for the reliable and convenient emplacement of a tablet supply element therein.

Recent developments in the packaging art have enabled and, indeed, popularized the presentation of a number of pharmaceutical tablets in a tablet supply element comprising (1) a plurality of erect, deformable blisters in spaced relationship to each other (which blisters, typically, are formed in a single sheet); (2) a pharmaceutical tablet within each blister; and (3) a backing sheet of thin, frangible material forming a closure for the blisters. A tablet supply element of such type may be carried upon or proximate a flat and relatively rigid member wherein are a number of apertures, in spaced relationship to each other and corresponding with the spacing of the blisters, and positioned so that each blister is in registration with an aperture. From such a tablet supply element so carried and positioned, single tablets may be pushedor punched-out, by pressing downward upon and deforming a blister and with slight and brief continuation of the deforming force, breaking the frangible sheet and expressing the tablet through the aperture, in accordance with need or a dosage schedule. The remaining, yet-unused tablets are preserved with ready availability and in a protected condition.

An important requisite for the utilization of such a tablet supply element is the accurate positioning of the blisters in rather precise registration with corresponding apertures of the fiat, apertured member. If such positioning is not accomplished or not maintained, a tablet may be punched out against the side of an aperture and, in the process, be broken or caused to crumble. To provide for or contribute to such positioning, the peripheral contour of the tablet supply element may be made to correspond, wholly or in substantial part, with the peripheral contour of a recess wherein the tablet supply element is emplaced. This peripheral conformance serves to restrain the tablet supply element from undesired sliding or slipping movement in a plane parallel to the face of the flat, aperture-d member. However, if, prior to or during emplacement, the tablet supply element is unduly manipu lated, it may become torn or creased or otherwise misshapen thus losing close conformance with the periphery of the recess and the capability to be or remain properly emplaced.

Therefore, an object of my invention is to provide means whereby a tablet supply element, as described, may be emplaced easily, accurately and with the minimum of manipulation.

Another object of my invention is to afford a reusable dispensing package for pharmaceutical tablets and similar preparations. Although, as hereinafter appears, certain elements of my dispenser are intentionally destructed in the course of the utilization thereof, the dispensing package is readily adaptable to repeated use, thus promoting the economies of its utilization.

The invention is explained in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view including the base and the cover of the dispensing container and a portion of the tablet supply element;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tablet supply element;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation along line 33 of FIG.

1 showing the tablet supply element resting on the lugs of the base, prior to emplacement;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation along line 44 of FIG. 1, showing the cover being closed upon the base, with the tablet supply element being urged toward an emplaced position and an end portion thereof being flexed around a lug in the base;

FIG. 5 is the same sectional elevation as FIG. 4, after the cover of the dispensing container has been closed and with the tablet supply element emplaced;

FIG. 6 is the same sectional elevation. as FIG. 4, after the tablet supply element has been emplaced, illustrating the manner in which a tablet is expressed from the dispenser.

In the drawings numeral 10 is a base; numeral 11 is a side portion of base 10; numeral 12 is the bottom portion of base 10; numeral 13 represents each of a number of spaced apertures in bottom portion 12; numeral 14 is a central recess defined by side portions 11 and bottom portion 12; 15 is a lug extending inwardly into the central recess 14 from side portion 11; numeral 20 is a cover for base 10; numeral 21 is a cam depending from the interior surface of cover 20; numeral 30 is a hinge connecting base 10 and cover 20; numeral 31 is a catch between base 10 and cover 20; numeral 40 is a tablet supply sheet; numeral 41 is a marginal portion of tablet supply sheet 40; numeral 42 is each of a number of spaced, deformable blisters in sheet 40; numeral 43 is a pharmaceutical tablet; and, numeral 44 is a thin, frangible backing sheet on tablet supply sheet 40.

Tablet supply sheet 40 has a peripheral contour, that being similar to and only very slightly smaller than, corresponds closely with the periphery of recess 14. Tablet supply sheet 40 is fabricated of a so-called rapid recovery material; it should retain its conformation when subject to relatively slight or moderate forces but flex when subject to the particular bending forces exerted by a cam 21, as hereinafter described, and then return quickly to its original conformation. The relative spacing of deformable blisters 42 of tablet supply sheet 40 corresponds with the spacing of apertures 13 in bottom portion 12.

Each cam 21, depending from the interior surface of cover 20, is arranged so that the working face thereof passes in close proximity to the inner edge of a lug 15 when and as cover 20 is closed upon base 10. The minimum clearance between theworking face of a cam 21 and the inner edge of a lug 15 should be slightly more than the thickness of tablet supply sheet 40. Cams 21 should not depend so far as to interfere with the complete closing of cover 20 upon base 10.

Each lug 15 is between the upper and lower extremities of the side portion 11 from which such lug extends inwardly; thus, each lug 15 overhangs bottom portion 12.

The invention may be begun to be utilized by resting tablet supply sheet 40, Within the periphery of central recess 14, upon lugs 15, as shown in FIG. 3. Then, cover 20 is closed upon base 10. In the course of such closing operation, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, each cam 21 bears upon a marginal portion 41 of tablet supply sheet 40 and flexes such marginal portion 41 around each lug 15 while concurrently urging the Whole tablet supply sheet 40 toward bottom portion 12. The distance by which a lug 15 is separated from bottom portion 12 should be approximately the same as the distance between side portion 11 and the inner edge of the lug 15 that extends inwardly from such side portion.

By the closing operation, tablet supply sheet 40 is emplaced upon bottom portion 12. Tablet supply sheet 40 is retained proximate bottom portion 12 by the overhang parts of lugs 15. The peripheral conformance between central recess 14 and tablet supply sheet 40 effectively 3 restrains relative movement thereof in a plane parallel to bottom portion 12. Thus, each blister 42 and the therewithin pharmaceutical tablet 43 is maintained in registration with an aperture 13. From tablet supply sheet 40 as emplaced, as shown in FIG. 6, single tablets 43 may be pushedor punched-out.

The preferred embodiment of my invention possess certain particular characteristics. The working face of each cam 21 is curved, as shown, to facilitate fiexure of marginal portion 41 of tablet supply sheet 40; a portion of each lug 15, as shown, is likewise curved. Side portions 11 of base are essentially perpendicular to bottom portion 12; thus, except for the disposition of each lug therein, central recess 14 is a volume of constant transverse cross section from bottom portion 12 to an intersecting and parallel plane some finite distance above each lug 15. Each lug 15 is an equal distance from bottom portion 12.

Tablet supply sheet 40 may advantageously be fabricated of polyvinyl chloride of approximately 5 mils thickness; but other materials having similar rigidity, flexure and rapid recovery properties are equally acceptable. Backing sheet 44 may be metal foil of .0005 gauge. Base 10 and cover may be molded of plastic materials or formed of other materials alfording sufficient rigidity and substance; base 10 and cover 20 may be integrally molded in a single piece with hinge between them being a socalled living hinge. Catch 31 is any conventional means for holding cover 20 in closed position upon base 10 and for releasing such cover from such base, when desired.

For situations where tablets 43 are to be administered in accordance with a dosage schedule, such schedule may be imprinted on tablet supply sheet 40. Blisters 42 and apertures 13 may be arrayed to assist in the visualization of a dosage schedule as, for example, in a rectilinear pattern simulating a calendar. The corresponding peripheral contours of tablet supply sheet and recess 14 may be arbitrarily formed to permit only a single (and correct) mode of emplacement of tablet supply sheet 40 in base 10. Removal of an expended tablet supply sheet 40 may be accomplished in any convenient manner and, such sheet having been expended, no special care need attend such removal.

A number of different specific embodiments of my invention may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for pharmaceutical tablets comprising, in combination (a) a planar tablet supply element bearing a number of pharmaceutical tablets and having a relatively flexible marginal portion;

(b) a carrier for the tablet supply element providing a bottom portion and side portions that define a recess;

(c) a lug extending inwardly, into the recess, from a side portion of the carrier; and,

(d) a cam, associated with the carrier, arranged to pass close to the lug so that, after the marginal portion of the tablet supply element has been prepositioned upon one side of the lug, movement of the cam flexes such marginal portion around and to the other side of such lug, and urges the tablet supply element to an emplaced position within the recess and proximate the bottom portion of the carrier.

2. A dispenser for pharmaceutical tablets comprising in combination (a) a planar tablet supply element bearing a number of tablets and having a relatively flexible marginal portion and a particular peripheral contour;

(b) a base having a planar inner bottom portion and side portions defining a recess, which recess has a peripheral contour conforming with the particular peripheral contour of the tablet supply element to the extent that when such tablet supply element is 4 proximate the inner bottom portion of the base, relative movement between them in a plane parallel to the bottom portion is essentially restrained;

(c) a lug extending inwardly, into the recess, from a side portion of the base intermediate the extremes of such side portions;

(d) a cam, connected with the base, adapted to pass close to the lug so that, after the tablet supply element is prepositioned in the recess with the flexible marginal portion thereof resting upon one side of a lug, movement of the cam flexes such marginal portion around and to the other side of such lug, and urges the tablet supply element to a position within the recess proximate the inner bottom portion of the base.

3. A dispensing package for a planar tablet supply element, which element bears a number of pharmaceutical tablets, possesses form-retaining and form-recovery characteristics and has flexible marginal portions, comprising, in combination (a) a base which has a bottom portion and side portions defining a recess;

(b) a cover adapted to form a closure for and to be removable from the base;

(c) a plurality of lugs, each such lug extending inwardly from a side portion of the base into the central recess and overhanging the bottom portion of the base; and,

(d) a plurality of cams, each such cam depending from the cover and arranged to pass close to a lug so that after such tablet supply element ha been prepositioned upon one side of the lugs and when the cover is closed upon the base, movement of each cam flexes a marginal portion of the tablet supply element around and to the other side of each such lug, and urges the tablet supply element to an emplaced position within the recess and proximate the bottom portion of the base.

4. A dispensing container for a planar tablet supply element, which supply element bear a number of pharmaceutical tablets, possesses form-retaining and formrecovery properties, has flexible marginal portions and is characterized -by a particular peripheral contour, comprising, in combination (a) a base which has a bottom portion and side portions defining a central recess, which recess has a peripheral contour conforming with the particular peripheral contour of the supply element to the extent that when such supply element is in the recess, relative movement between the supply element and the base in a plane parallel to the bottom portion of the base is essentially restrained;

(b) a cover hinged to the base and adapted to be moved between an open position and a closed position;

(0) a plurality of lugs, each such lug extending inwardly from a side portion of the base, intermediate the extreme of such side portion, into the central recess and overhanging the bottom portion of the base; and,

(d) a plurality of cams, each such cam attached to the cover and arranged, afterthe supply element is prepositioned in the recess with the flexible marginal portions thereof resting upon the lugs and when the cover is moved between the open position and the closed position, to pass near a lug, to flex a marginal portion of the supply element around such lug, and to urge the tablet supply element to position within the recess proximate the bottom portion of the base.

5. A dispenser for pharmaceutical tablets comprising in combination (a) a planar tablet supply element bearing a number of pharmaceutical tablets, each such tablet being in one of a pattern of erect deformable blisters and adapted to be expressed from such blister by being pushed out through a frangible portion thereof, which tablet supply element has a relatively flexible marginal portion;

(b) a carrier for the tablet supply element comprising supply element respectively in registration with the apertures in the bottom portion of the carrier.

ment to the extent that When such tablet supply element is Within the recess, relative movement between the tablet supply element and the base in a plane parallel to the bottom portion of the base is esside portions and a bottom portion Which has a 5 sentially restrained, and which bottom portion has a plurality of apertures in a pattern corresponding to plurality of apertures in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of blisters on the tablet supply element, the pattern of blisters on the tablet supply element; such bottom portion and side portions defining a (c) a cover hinged to the base and adapted to move recess; between an open position and a closed position;

(0) a lug extending inwardly, into the recess, from a 10 (d) a plurality of lugs, each such lug extending inwardside portion of the carrier, intermediate the extremes ly from a side portion of the base into the recess of such side portion; and, intermediate the extremes of each such side portion;

(d) a cam, connected with the carrier, arranged to pass and close to the lug so that, after the marginal portion (e) a plurality of cams on the cover, each such cam of the tablet supply element has been prepositioned arranged tangentially to approach and pass a lug upon one side of the lug, movement of the cam flexes when the cover is moved from an open position to a such marginal portion around and to the other side closed position so that, after the tablet supply eleof such lug, and urges the tablet supply element to a ment has been prepositioned upon the lugs Within position Within the recess and proximate the bottom the recess and when the cover is closed, movement portion of the carrier With the blisters of such tablet of each cam flexes a marginal portion of the tablet supply element around and to the other side of a lug, and urges the tablet supply element to an em- 6. A dispenser for pharmaceutical tablets comprising in combination (a) a planar tablet supply element bearing a number placed position Within the recess and proximate the bottom portion of the base With the blisters of the tablet supply element respectively in registration of pharmaceutical tablets, each such tablet being in one of a pattern of erect deformable blisters and adapted to be expressed from such blister by being with the apertures in the bottom portion of the base.

References Cited pushed out through a frangible portion thereof,

which tablet supply element also possesses form- UNITED STATES PATENTS retaining and form-recovery properties, has flexible 2,644,259 7/ 1953 Beadle 40 7 marginal portions and is characterized by a particu- 2,645,334 7/1953 Aldndge 2O6 16-5 lar peripheral contour; 3,199,489 8/ 1965 Ruoss et a1 20642 (b) a base which has a bottom portion and side por- 3,206,012 9/1965 Bragmetz 220 31 tions defining a recess, the recess being characterized by a peripheral contour conforming with the particular peripheral contour of the tablet supply ele- 35 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR PHARMACEUTICAL TABLETS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION (A) PLANAR TABLET SUPPLY ELEMENT BEARING A NUMBER OF PHARMACEUTICAL TABLETS AND HAVING A RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE MARGINAL PORTION; (B) A CARRIER FOR THE TABLET SUPPLY ELEMENT PROVIDING A BOTTOM PORTION AND SIDE PORTIONS THAT DEFINE A RECESS 